Swine fever deaths in Russia increase

"A total of 27 pigs have died in the past 24 hours," the statement said.

The outbreak was registered on June 30 and more than 3,400 pigs have been culled since. 7,500 potentially-infected animals have yet to be put down.

Preliminary reports said that the infection may have been brought in by wild pigs. The virus can survive for up to 15 weeks in raw pork, and up to six months in processed meat. The virus, which causes lethal hemorrhagic disease in pigs, does not pose a threat to humans.

Personnel have been deployed to guard the province's border, to ensure that no pork products are taken out of North Ossetia, which has approximately 115,000 domestic pigs.

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